By Michael Howell As part of their budget saving measures the county commissioners had slated the Juvenile Detention Center for closing by November 1, which involved eliminating seven employee positions. Since the budget was passed, however, the county has received notification from the state auditor that the state is ordering that the facility be closed…
Daily Archives: 6:57 pm
Groninger resigns as council president, Holcomb elected
By Michael Howell Stevensville Town Councilor Pat Groninger, who has come under fire recently for allegedly bullying former Mayor Lew Barnett and Councilor Desera Towle, has resigned his position as Council President but aims to remain on the council representing Ward 1. At the September 26 meeting, Groninger told the council that with the amount…
Job offer turns out to be scam
You’ve probably heard the old saying, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” Lorenzo Semeraro of Stevensville thought he was on a pretty good track to be pulling in some much needed extra income when he answered an advertisement for a job that would require working only one hour a day…
Obama’s plans not new
Dear Editor, Obama’s recently stated plans are not new, including: 1. Increasing tax revenue, plus demanding that rich Americans pay a “fair share” of their income, 2. Increasing spending, 3. Creating new jobs, paid for by the above items – but many economists think that is contrary to creating new jobs, and 4. Decreasing the…
Rebutting King on Williams
Dear Editor, Eleanor Roosevelt is quoted as having said: “Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people.” It seems to fall into the latter that Bruce King chose to assail me in defense of his cohort, Gene Williams, and I believe I am entitled to rebut his uninspired ad hominem prattle….
Taxpayers should be outraged
Dear Editor, Another blackmail lawsuit. This time our district judges suing our commissioners. Grow up people, the County has no money! I don’t know about you, but I’ve had enough. Time we all sit back and see who this is hurting. Of course, the taxpayers. The people who elected you to work for us….
Yes, we should be outraged
Dear Editor, There were two county-budget pieces published in the Ravalli Republic Monday, Sept. 26 that need real-world clarifications. In the interest of good journalism—to provide enough information to the public so they can make informed decisions about their government—and also in the interest of the working folks who have to put up with the…
Solutions to county budget problems
Dear Editor, The three new county commissioners – Stoltz, Foss and Kannenwisher – have either completely reneged on their campaign pledges or they’ve lied to us. Specifically, they pledged to create jobs and turn away federal and state grants. Not only have they gone back on these promises, they’ve done the opposite. The decision…
Ideas to fix county’s problems
Dear Editor, Here straight from county records are some of the annual costs borne by taxpayers for our current county commissioners: Salaries ($262,849); Social Security & Medicare Taxes ($20,108); County’s share of Health Insurance Premiums ($36,379); Life Insurance ($164) Workman’s Compensation ($3,910); Pension costs ($18,583); Travel Expenses ($4,200); Automobile Expenses ($15,555); Office Expenses ($10,780)…
Medigap alert
Dear Editor, If you own a Medicare Supplement, know someone who does, or know anyone about to turn 65, this is important information. It has to do with the Tom Coburn/Joe Lieberman Medicare Senate Bill. This bill is designed to reform Medicare. On the surface this is good in face of the $60 billion…